I almost let Earth Day slip by completely without celebrating it or teaching it in the library. However, have been collecting recycled materials for Maker Space in the library media center from the parents in my building. We have TP tubes, bottlecaps, coffee containers, yarn, fabric.. all sorts of materials that I haven’t been using at all. What better way to show students how to reuse materials then to have them make something out of everyday waste that is normally thrown away. So for Earth Day, I decided to a recycled car project for my Kindergarten and First Grade, and it’s been awesome.
Before starting, we discussed what Earth Day was and how you can celebrate Earth Day and help the environment. Definitely ask the question, “What does it mean to go green?” You will get some very interesting answers! We read the book Michael Recycle and The Tree Top Cops. It was a perfect companion to teaching about ways to help the environment and what they could do to help save paper (and trees).
After the story, we discussed ways we could reuse what we consider to be garbage, and I showed them how we could create a car. We discussed what each part of the car was made from and then students started on their own car design. After the cars were completed, students raced their cars to see whose car went the furthest. This library media lesson plans encompasses Earth Day, caring for the environment and recycling, and STEM. It was a great cross curricular lesson and students were completely engaged!
Here is the link to the directions for creating the cars! Toilet Paper Tube Race Cars
Materials:
- 1 Toilet Paper Tube
- 2 toothpicks
- 4 bottle caps
- Hole Puncher
